Erwin Dudley, family loving life in two countries

The Dudleys, from left, LaDaisha, Erwin, E.J., Talia and Tamara make their home in Tuscaloosa during Erwin’s offseason from the Turkish Basketball League, where he plays for Galatasaray Medical Park. Dudley, the 2002 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year while at Alabama, holds a free annual basketball camp for kids in his hometown of Uniontown.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Becky HopfSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Barely a whisper into his 20s, he boarded a plane, college degree in hand, and journeyed to another continent to begin his career.

They told him if he didn’t like it there, he could return home to Alabama, no hard feelings.

“I stepped off the plane in Israel, and I loved it,” remembers former University of Alabama All-American forward Erwin Dudley of his initial venture into playing professional basketball overseas.

Eight years later, the 2002 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and Academic All-SEC standout now has dual citizenship in the United States and Turkey, where his Turkish name is Ersin Dagli.

He’s overcome language barriers — he once walked miles to a mall when he gave up on trying to translate the word “mall” to a cab driver in Turkey — and won his second consecutive Turkish Basketball League championship two weeks ago. His current team, Galatasaray Medical Park, won the championship by defeating Banvitspor, which stars his former UA teammate Chuck Davis.

“That was something special, being able to play against someone you know, a great experience. I didn‘t want to beat my friend, but I didn‘t want to lose either,” said Dudley, a perennial all-star who cherishes his bonds with his fellow Crimson Tide players. He and Kennedy Winston were once teammates with Turk Telekom. He’s played against Ron Steele and Jermareo Davidson and has run into Richard Hendrix.

“It’s always good to see someone from home. Chuck comes up. He’ll hang out at the house. We go out to eat. And in the summer when I come home, I try to link up with as many of my teammates as I can,” said the man who led the SEC in rebounding three consecutive seasons.

His Alabama basketball family continues to play a large role in his life, volunteering each June to travel to Uniontown, where Dudley grew up and his brother, Jamaal Hunter, is the mayor, to help run Erwin Dudley’s Camp of Champions, an event he’s held free for kids the past eight years. The staff this year included camp director Terrance Meade, Rod Grizzard, Reggie Rambo and Marcus Campbell as well as former Auburn player Frankie Sullivan.

“I got the idea from Marcus Campbell,” Dudley said, referring to the former UA and Livingston High School graduate who started a similar free summer event for his community. “Marcus helps me out at my camp now, and I’m planning to help him with his this summer. He gave me advice on how to start mine. It’s a great opportunity for kids in that area, a way I can give back to a community that’s so special to me. I have been blessed with so many great sponsors who help with donations, and my wife works really hard to organize everything and make it special.”

His wife is Tamara Croom Dudley, a former UA cheerleader, the daughter of former UA football standout Kelvin Croom and niece of former Mississippi State football coach and UA player Sylvester Croom.

The Dudleys make their offseason home in Tuscaloosa, having bought a house here and raising their twins, Talia and Erwin Jr. (E.J.), who will be 2 in August, as well as daughter LaDaisha. The family joins Dudley in Turkey for the heart of his season, November through May.

“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to play basketball,” said Dudley, 31, and the 2007 EuroCup All-Star Game MVP. His NBA hopes were dashed by his 6-foot-8 height and a 2003 knee injury at the Portsmouth Invitational that required two surgeries and kept him sidelined for a year. “The NBA was always my goal in life, but I’ve learned to play and appreciate the hand that was dealt me. I’m happy. I have a great family. My kids are healthy. I’m doing what I love.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Barely a whisper into his 20s, he boarded a plane, college degree in hand, and journeyed to another continent to begin his career.</p><p>They told him if he didn't like it there, he could return home to Alabama, no hard feelings. </p><p>“I stepped off the plane in Israel, and I loved it,” remembers former University of Alabama All-American forward Erwin Dudley of his initial venture into playing professional basketball overseas. </p><p>Eight years later, the 2002 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and Academic All-SEC standout now has dual citizenship in the United States and Turkey, where his Turkish name is Ersin Dagli. </p><p>He's overcome language barriers — he once walked miles to a mall when he gave up on trying to translate the word “mall” to a cab driver in Turkey — and won his second consecutive Turkish Basketball League championship two weeks ago. His current team, Galatasaray Medical Park, won the championship by defeating Banvitspor, which stars his former UA teammate Chuck Davis.</p><p>“That was something special, being able to play against someone you know, a great experience. I didn't want to beat my friend, but I didn't want to lose either,” said Dudley, a perennial all-star who cherishes his bonds with his fellow Crimson Tide players. He and Kennedy Winston were once teammates with Turk Telekom. He's played against Ron Steele and Jermareo Davidson and has run into Richard Hendrix.</p><p>“It's always good to see someone from home. Chuck comes up. He'll hang out at the house. We go out to eat. And in the summer when I come home, I try to link up with as many of my teammates as I can,” said the man who led the SEC in rebounding three consecutive seasons. </p><p>His Alabama basketball family continues to play a large role in his life, volunteering each June to travel to Uniontown, where Dudley grew up and his brother, Jamaal Hunter, is the mayor, to help run Erwin Dudley's Camp of Champions, an event he's held free for kids the past eight years. The staff this year included camp director Terrance Meade, Rod Grizzard, Reggie Rambo and Marcus Campbell as well as former Auburn player Frankie Sullivan.</p><p>“I got the idea from Marcus Campbell,” Dudley said, referring to the former UA and Livingston High School graduate who started a similar free summer event for his community. “Marcus helps me out at my camp now, and I'm planning to help him with his this summer. He gave me advice on how to start mine. It's a great opportunity for kids in that area, a way I can give back to a community that's so special to me. I have been blessed with so many great sponsors who help with donations, and my wife works really hard to organize everything and make it special.”</p><p>His wife is Tamara Croom Dudley, a former UA cheerleader, the daughter of former UA football standout Kelvin Croom and niece of former Mississippi State football coach and UA player Sylvester Croom. </p><p>The Dudleys make their offseason home in Tuscaloosa, having bought a house here and raising their twins, Talia and Erwin Jr. (E.J.), who will be 2 in August, as well as daughter LaDaisha. The family joins Dudley in Turkey for the heart of his season, November through May.</p><p>“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to play basketball,” said Dudley, 31, and the 2007 EuroCup All-Star Game MVP. His NBA hopes were dashed by his 6-foot-8 height and a 2003 knee injury at the Portsmouth Invitational that required two surgeries and kept him sidelined for a year. “The NBA was always my goal in life, but I've learned to play and appreciate the hand that was dealt me. I'm happy. I have a great family. My kids are healthy. I'm doing what I love.”</p>